Celebrations are in order as a record number of Taylor students placed at a prestigious singing competition.
The Indiana NATS Audition is held by the National Association of Teachers of Singing every year. There are two categories students can compete in: musical theatre and classical. Both are further divided into categories based on age and gender, and each of these has three placement opportunities: first, second, and third.
“The fact that thirteen Taylor students received awards at NATS speaks highly of their preparation and of the level of work being done in the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance,” Conor Angell, Music, Theatre and Dance department co-chair and professor of music, said. “These performers are developing the skills that will enable them to contribute richly to their artistic communities.”
The 13 ranked spots claimed by Taylor students is the most in a single NATS competition in Taylor history. The students who placed are Gavin Kastner, Cameron Damesworth, Selah Grannis, Milo Guevara, Lisa Pinsenschaum, Gabrielle Hamilton, Brynn Dunlap, Isaiah Owens, Kaelyn Harvey, Gideon Love, Anna Laning, Gaby Valdez and Maya Quillen.
Each student had the opportunity to share a story with the judges and audience and demonstrate a wide variety of abilities, Lisa Pinsenschaum, a sophomore multimedia journalism and musical theatre double major, said.
“I’ve learned to be thankful for every note I'm able to sing, and everything that comes out of my vocal chords,” Pinsenschaum said. “God has given me breath to use, and I wanna do that for His glory. I could feel God smiling and telling me ‘good job.’”
Taylor students are guided by their professors throughout the entire process leading up to the Indiana NATS Audition, from selecting music to the final performance.
Preparing for NATS begins with selecting pieces to be performed. Participants are given a specific time limit to perform within, so students typically perform three or four pieces.
“Helping them pick repertoire that shows off what they can do, picking songs that can really highlight the beauty of their voices or their expressive capabilities or interesting, quirky things about them is really helpful,” Mary Kathryn Brewer, assistant professor of music, said.
From there, students work with professors to perfect their performances for months leading up to the audition day.
Although professors typically do not get the opportunity to listen to the culmination of all the hard work put in by their students at the actual audition due to judging for other performers, they are still proud of their students, Angell said.
“I really want them to feel supported and that I’ve got their back when they go into a competition like that,” Brewer said. “They know ‘even if I don’t do well, Dr. Brewer is still gonna be proud of me.’”
Whether they return to Taylor with success or disappointment, the students each receive feedback from the judges that can be of benefit for their musical journeys.
This feedback comes from professionals and provides the students with motivational goals and a sense of what fellow performers are doing, which spurs them on to further practice, Angell said.
“It’s a lot about the critiques and the info that I get and how I’m able to use those and work with my voice teacher too,” Pinsenschaum said. “We’re told to worship God with music and with our voices, and how special is it that we can be at a school that helps us refine that and use it for the Creator’s glory?”
She said that success at this Indiana NATS Audition helps people realize the work God is doing at Taylor since He shines through the talents He gives to people.
NATS provided an opportunity for Taylor musical students to share the gift of music God gave them, she said.
“God gave music to us as a gift, and so being able to share that with people, and even just the wins and accomplishments of Taylor growing, is big,” Pinsenschaum said.
